Camp Kesem looking for interested student volunteers

The harsh reality of cancer respects no age boundaries. Its painful effects reach everyone it touches, and children are no exception. In order to provide support to children dealing with the effects of cancer, a committed group of IU students has been working to provide a cost-free camp held one week each summer for children whose parents have or had cancer. \nCoordinators and counselors for IU's Camp Kesem will be holding call-out meetings at 8 p.m. today and Tuesday in the Kelley School of Business Room 304. \nJunior Meghan Sweet, a coordinator and second-year counselor, said she was first attracted to Camp Kesem because she wanted to get involved and help kids. \nHowever, Sweet said she never knew how much the organization would give her. She said the campers make the whole adventure worthwhile, recalling in particular one girl's smile during a magician's show.\n"All the volunteers are also getting something in return," Sweet said. "The things that you receive by helping these children is absolutely amazing."\nCounselor and senior Rob Cantor said he believed in Camp Kesem's value because of what he saw the campers get out of it every day. \n"I think it gives them a sense of connection ... it gives them a feeling of respect because I think that by the end of the week, they learn that these kids in a sense are role models for us counselors," Cantor said. "It almost makes them feel like they belong (and that) cancer in their families doesn't have to be something of a tragedy every day of their life."\nCantor went on to say he believed the value of the camp is what he called the its "benevolence." He said being surrounded by campers who had dealt with so much in their short lives gave him "so much in return." \nThe camp, run entirely by students, finished its second summer in early August. Thirty-eight children from the Bloomington and Indianapolis areas attended the week-long program, doubling last year's total of 19 campers.\nSenior and camp coordinator Leslie Abrams said having more campers in each age group this year made it easier for the children to befriend one another. \n"This year's camp was great," Abrams said. "The fact that we had that many more campers really gave other campers more people to relate to."\nSweet said she felt students planning and running the camp benefits the campers' general experience. \n"It is really unique," Sweet said. "I think that since we're not all adults ... we still remember what it's like to be kids."\nCantor encouraged anyone interested to come to either of the call-out meetings. He said he was unsure at first if he would be able to relate to the children, but said one day at camp changed his whole perspective. \n"All you have to do is meet one of these kids, that's really all it comes down to," Cantor said. "It's so much more than a camp about cancer ... It's about trust, and it's about friendship, self-confidence and connections"